
Rampage add three from dispersal draft
October 14, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release
The Grand Rapids Rampage Arena Football team picked up three players from a dispersal draft of players from the Carolina Cobras, Detroit Fury and Indiana Firebirds.
With the second pick, the Rampage took WR/LB Anthony Hines, and then took WR/DB Ryan Bowers with the 18th selection. In the third round, the Rampage took lineman Matt Keneley.
Hines (5'11" 185lbs Winston Salem State) led the Firebirds receptions (77), receiving yards (1,060), receiving touchdowns (20) and was second in points scored (122). Over the last ten games of the season when Indiana went 8-2 after a coaching change, Hines grabbed more passes (67), yards (947) and touchdowns (19). He also had 4.5 tackles and an interception in limited defensive playing time as he played offensive specialist, wide receiver/defensive back and wide receiver/linebacker last season with the Firebirds.
In 2003, he led the af2's Cape Fear Wildcats with 114 receptions for 1575 yards, ranking 4th and third in the league, respectively. He also added 26 receiving touchdowns, totaled 33 kick returns for an average of 21.2 yards per return and two touchdowns. In 2002, he played in ten games with the af2's Roanoke Steam catching 60 passes for 776 yards and 6 touchdowns. On defense, he recorded 18 tackles and a fumble recovery for a score.
"Anthony (Hines) was the number one guy on our board and we are excited to have him aboard," says Rampage head coach Sparky McEwen. "He was by far the best receiver on the Firebirds and over the last ten of the games of the season, not too many players were better than Hines. He's a difference maker on offense."
Bowers (6'2" 210lbs Presbyterian) played four games for the Firebirds in 2004 registering 3.0 tackles, an interception and a pass breakup. In 2003, he played seven games for the af2's Cincinnati Swarm and finished season with 15 receptions for 158 yards, including two touchdowns. Defensively, he recorded 11.5 tackles, two interceptions (1 returned for TD) and seven pass breakups. Attended Presbyterian College and was an All-American Second Teamer and led the South Atlantic Conference in interceptions (nine) and passes defended during his senior year.
"Ryan (Bowers) served as backup to one of the top free agents in Brett Bech and did a pretty good job when he was in there," says McEwen. "He's a big-bodied player at the receiver/linebacker position that can get after some people on both sides of the ball."
Matt Keneley (6'04" 295lbs USC) was selected in the seventh round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the New York Giants and has spent time with the San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers. Played the 2001 season with the XFL champion Los Angeles Xtreme and posted 36 tackles and 6.0 sacks. Started 45 of 49 games as a defensive tackle for USC and earned First-Team All-PAC 10 honors his season registering 5.0 sacks and finished with 209 tackles and 12.0 sacks. In his Arena career, he played from 1998, 2001-02 with the San Jose SaberCats and 2003 with the Detroit Fury.
"Matt (Keneley) brings some heat and if he shows what he's done in the past, then I feel he could be one of the steals of this draft," said McEwen.
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Draft Results
1. Nashville -- Adrian McPherson
2. Grand Rapids -- Anthony Hines
3. Colorado -- Andy McCullough
4. Columbus -- Norris McCleary
5. Georgia -- Carl Morris
6. Austin -- David Priestly
7. Chicago -- Charlie Cook
8. New York -- Mike Horacek
9. Colorado -- Delvin Hughley
10. Tampa Bay -- Jarrod Penright
11. Orlando -- Tony Zimmerman
12. Colorado -- Tom Burke
13. New Orleans -- Hans Olsen
14. Nashville -- Fred Booker
15. San Jose -- Jordan Younger
16. Arizona -- Brandon Moore
17. Nashville -- Kahlil Carter
18. Grand Rapids -- Ryan Bowers
19. Philadelphia -- Lamar Campbell
20. Dallas -- Brian Robinson
21. Georgia -- Nathan Poole
22. Austin -- Darnell McDonald
23. New York -- Kelly Herndon
24. Los Angeles -- Chris Doering
25. Tampa Bay -- Mike Sutton
26. Colorado -- Jon Pendergrass
27. Chicago -- Demetrious Maxie
28. Grand Rapids -- Matt Keneley
29. Tampa Bay -- Jeff Cogell
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 14, 2004
- Crush add four players through dispersal draft - Colorado Crush
- L.A. Avengers draft NFL veteran Chris Doering - Los Angeles Avengers
- Rattlers Select Brandon Moore in Dispersal Draft - Arizona Rattlers
- VooDoo select OL/DL Hans Olsen in dispersal draft - New Orleans VooDoo
- Gladiators roll the dice in Ventura County, CA on Saturday, November 6 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Crush sign af2 Ironman of the Year Tim Dodge - Colorado Crush
- Soul draft Strath Haven grad Lamar Campbell - Philadelphia Soul
- Georgia Force select pair of wide receiver/linebackers in dispersal draft - Georgia Force
- Storm select three players in Dispersal Draft - Tampa Bay Storm
- SaberCats pick Younger in dispersal draft - San Jose SaberCats
- Nashville make McPherson top choice - AFL I
- Rush selects pair of linemen in AFL dispersal draft - Chicago Rush
- Storm QB Stafford could send NBA fans home happy - Tampa Bay Storm
- Rampage add three from dispersal draft - Grand Rapids Rampage
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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